Comparasion of ultrastructural level in preeclampsia and normotensive maternal platelet

Introduction and Aim: Preeclampsia is a multisystem disease, which is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria occuring after the 20th week of gestation. Accompanied by an abnormal vascularization in placenta, increased systemic vascular resistance, increased platelet aggragation, coagulation system activation and endothelial cell dysfunction occurs. Thrombocytopenia, is one of the most important clinical findings in preeclampsia. The purpose of this study is to compare the ultrastructural changes occuring in thrombocyte of preeklamptic and normotensive pregnant women.Mateials and Methods: Venous blood samples obtained from pregnant mothers, 20 of whom with preeclampsia and 20 of whom with normotensive, for thrombocyte extraction were firstly centrifuged. Prefixation was provided in phosphate-buffered glutaraldehyde at the same rate of 1.25% by thrombocyte obtained. For postfixation, %1 osmium tetroxide was included. Then, after being washed in buffer solution, it was dehydrated at the increased alcohol degrees, left in infiltration and blocked. Then, semi-thin sections taken with ultramicrotome were stained with toludine blue. The assesment was made through light microscope following thin sections being taken and stained with contrast, thrombocytes were examined ultrastructurally and their electron micrographs were takenResults: when pre-eclampsia and the normotensive group cross sections were examined, histologically, in both semi-thin and thin sections, it was observed that the discoidal structure was preserved in normotensive group and especially the connection between granules and channeel structures maintained. In the preeclampsia group the number of ? and dense granules decreased, to a great extent, and the strucures of channel systems in tubular structure, were observed to be irregular.Conclusion: When the damage observed in cytoplasmic organelles is assesed, it is clearly seen that preeclampsia induces cellular damage in thrombocyte and in case of aggravation in preeclampsia, it may cause significant changes in cell membranes of thrombocyte and sytoplasmic organelles.Key words; Preeclampsia,thrombocyte,ultrastructural structure